Marijuana seized, plantation raided in Benguet operations

KIBUNGAN, Benguet – Anti-narcotics agents in two incidents Tuesday seized four sacks of marijuana leaves in brick form here and torched P1.4 million worth of harvestable marijuana plants in a huge plantation in adjacent Kapangan town, touted as the marijuana capital of the country.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Cordillera chief Edgar Apalla said 6,400 marijuana plants were burned in a 1,400 square meter plantation in a hinterland barangay.

Meanwhile, Senior Insp. Melchor Ong, deputy chief of the Cordillera police Regional Anti-illegal Drugs Task Group, said John Pawas, 46, a porter and resident of Polis, Poblacion tried to trade marijuana when police told him it was a sting operation.

Ninety-three dried marijuana bricks weighing 90 kilos were seized from Pawas who reportedly was eyeing buyers from the lowlands.

Pawas is now incarcerated at the Benguet provincial jail while facing criminal charges for the contraband priced at P 4,950,000.

Meanwhile, Cordillera PDEA officers said information dissemination on ill effects of marijuana use, legal implications of marijuana production and trading was conducted in a forum attended by local folk and officials headed by Kapangan Mayor Robert Canuto.

The near three days marijuana eradication drive was carried out at Sitio Pingew, Barangay Sagubo.

Concerned citizens reportedly helped in the destruction of the illegal hemp.